[www.inewsguyana.com] – Residents of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice are calling on the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) cease the removal of street lights from their community.
The picketing exercise commenced on Tuesday, October 27 and saw the participation of sugar workers, children and women. The residents are concerned that the removal of the lights will increase criminal activities in the community.
When contacted by iNews on Thursday, October 29, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson shed some light on the issue, explaining that the former PPP government had promised the residents during the election period that they will receive free street lights.
As such, the lights were being powered for free. Minister Patterson further explained that the Region Five Private Sector had asked for 30 days to come up with a plan in order to sort out payment for the street lights, but the time expired and as such, the lights were removed.
Minister Patterson made it clear that it is the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) that is responsible for paying the bill and that was not done in Bath Settlement.
According to the Minister, GPL cannot afford to subsidize the cost but if an arrangement is made with the NDC for payment, then the lights will be reinstalled.
Seems so backward to just cut off the electricity. If it were a PPP move to provide free electricity to that community, then implement a tax to cover the cost. Let the residents pay.I don’t see the government’s move as progressive.All elected governments should serve to make lives better for all the people. Removing street light does not !!
Falat you are a downright dunce and racist.
Anni i will not even attempt to go furtHur with you because it is evident that you are limited intellectually and really cannot internalised what i had said in my previous comments.You are just a down right racist and will die being one.Act civilised and stop listenining to PPP propaganda machine.Linden,s RDC IS PAYING FOR THEIR ELECTRICITY.Pay the bill or remain without street lights bastard.The baby party and corruption is over.ha ha ha ha ha ha .LONG LIVE THE COLATION.
Why they can’t get some solar power lights and installed them.
How come Gpl subsidised linden free electricity what Pattersen have to say about that ?
Falat based on your intelligence and the ignorance of others, can you honestly justify why Linden a predominant black community deserve to receive FREE electricity and Indian community MUST pay for street lights.
Please keep calm and watch on!
So Lawrence how about Linden aren’t they paying next to noting for electricity????? Is there a reason why you didn’t single out Linden?????
This administration is quick to dismantle street lights at Bath but are fearful of touching all those illegal connections in and around GT. Their supporters live there. Bath Settlement may be a predominantly PPPC AREA so they have to send a stark political message; no payment, no light.THAT IS A POLITICAL DECISION to remove street lights. GROSS DISCRIMINATION.
These scumbags continue to sink guyana every day
Anni,what you are saying to me is unadulturated Poppy cock and literary trash.The record is theRE to prove meANing the evidence so stop seeing one side of the coin and reason sensibly.GPL BELONG TO THE COUNTRY AND NOT THE PPP AND THEIR COHERTS,U GUYS NEED TO STOP SEEING THIS ISSUE AS BEING RACIST AND BE OBJECTIVE.No WONDER GUYANA CANNOT MOVE FRWARD BECAUSE OF THE RACISM INSTILLED INTO U PEOPLE BY BHARAT JAGDEO.LET THEM PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY OR REMAIN IN DARKNESS,WHAT GOES FOR ONE GOES FOR ALL AND ITS THE SAME THROUGHOUT GUANA.the ppp is too wicked,corrupt and racist.ONCE AGAIN PAY THE BILL OR REMAIN WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.SMAMEFUL ACT BY THE PPP.LET THEM GO
Falat everyone is aware G.P.L runs with gas .But how can you justify a whole town having free electricity and street lights which is the state responsibility is being deny.Are these people being victims base on the election results?
How can having street lights be considered stealing? Guyana’s roads are dark, and this will only make it more dangerous. Also it is a haven for criminals. So now the criminals will have better environment to operate.
Really bad move by the ‘minister’…why should Linden be given free electricity and not Bath?
Guyana ALWAYS prospered under PPP !! Those who voted for Nagamotoo & Granger got what they deserve. Dejavu all over again. Wait for awhile & see what happens.
Tell that to the people of linden and to all those ministers who do not have to pay for electricity despite their astronomical salaries. The pensioners excepting those from Linden, now have to pay for their electricity and water whereas before they didn’t. Oh I forgot!! The government increased their pension by $4000!!! They now have to choose to between switching on their lights or forgo the purchase of basic food items. The alternative? Back to bottle lamps.
principle is principle,the baby party is over,what do those residents think?GPL IS NOT RUNNING WITH WATER BUT CASH AND THATS THE LEVEL OF CORRUPTION THAT WAS PREVAILING UNDER THE PPP ADMINISTRATION.ITS A SHAME BUT WHATS IN THE DARK MUST COME TO LIGHT,PAY UP OR REMAIN IN THE DARK PPP REALLY THink GUYANA BELONGs TO THEM,THEY ARE A PACK OF THIEVES AND A NEST OF VIPERS.SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME.LET PPP GO BAGGED THEIR FACE
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure pays for streetlights on public highways and main thoroughfares. The municipalities and NDCs pay for street lighting inside towns and villages. It has been that way for many long years. Street lights that are not paid for add to the company’s losses. The Region Five private sector had 30 days to put something in place but did not respond. What was the company to do? These are not the days when the over paid puppet Dindyal and his political masters treated the GPL as party property. Jagdeo and company can pay for the lights from their plundered assets but knowing these people they would be shocked at such a suggestion. They would rather manipulate their gullible and naïve rural followers to make political mileage out of it.
Ndc staff normally useless and currup. Regent 3 for instance.
Let’s not forget this is guyana where many people expectations won’t be met. My be some should live within their means and realise government of guyana hardly a help.
THE BATH SETTLEMENT PEOPLE ARE NOW GETTING WHAT THEY DESERVE . WHOLE DAY THEY USED TO TALK ABOUT JAGDEO HOUSE, JAGDEO WIFE , JAGDEO PENSION. LET THEM ENJOY THE CHANGE .
Just wondering who pays for street lights in Linden???? After all they are receiving free electricity.
In the meantime residents of Linden get free electricity.
Too much .This is heartless discrimination. Street lights should be the state responsibility.How can they afford to pay for residents of previlage and chosen community ?but can’t afford a few on the streets..of our home.
Hold on folks do not get emotional. All the minister is writing a wrong which was perpetrated against the people for the past 23 years in which this community was given free electricity and did not have to pay for it and this is only one of the many wrongs. Just like the people in Pradoville 11 who get free road and water and has never paid rates and taxes.
All those who support and call for payment of street lights must also call for those in the cabinet of this sledge hammer style administration, to pay for their electricity. I can understand the president getting free electricity but it the others. They AMUST ALSO PAY.
Further, in ALL CIVILISED SOCIETIES/ STATES, the state has a social responsibility in providing such services to its population wherever this is practicable. The state provides security for its citizens and street lights come under that category. So those who advocate for payment for street lights, do some research into security and street lights and social responsibility of the state
Government can get 50% salary increase, but can’t afford to give working people some street lights for safety, oh beautiful Guyana.
Who cares about the middle class citizen,,all the rich ones got guards and is well protected we only got to pray when night done that no bandit did not burst open our head..And forget about the cell phone thief and prisoners who are getting freed again..they are putting gun to your head demand your cell phone ,money ,and valuables and that is petty crime..How many person did not lost their lives or being hurt to protect their possession ..BUT IT ALL BOILS DOWN THIS IS GUYANA..
Simple courtesy: Negotiate with the local NDC and come to an agreement going forward. Again, simple courtest.
Removing street lights with such a high crime rate for whatever reason is absurd.
Why not leave the lights on and negotiate payment? How much did it cost to remove those lights? How much will it cost to put them back up? Who pays for all this? Whoever promised those people free street lights should be sanctioned for public misconduct. Nothing is free in guyana.
Now we are creating a perfect environment for criminal elements to go on the rampage. When that happens we all know who to hold responsible.
I am not sure I follow… residents are now pay for street lights ? So lets save $ and remove all from all along the ECD and EBD who is paying for those ? …. it is great the new regime is setting standards… Good for them ! so now lets get a list of all those other villages that are not paying, have not been paying and turn the street lights off…. are the folks in Bartica paying ? Are the areas identified for township before local government elections paying ?
In that case don’t spend money and resource to remove the lights just cut them off until payments are received and them power them back on.
Very strange GPL cannot afford to subsidize street lights for the safety of the community, but can afford to give a whole REGION free LIGHT
That’s bull he talking taking off street lights that has already been installed is injustice and heartless knowing the crime rate in the country they just encouragin people to just pack up and leave this country. I’m a rice farmer and thinking of doing it.
What happen to the entire community..only a few people? The rest are cowards? Stand up for your rights!!